Expansible packing



1. J. FISHER.

EXPANSIBLE PACKING.

APPLICATION FILED uov.1. 1919.

1 ,386,097 Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WWW

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. FISHER, 0F JUNIOR, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM L. FISHER, OF TUNNELTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

ExPANsIBLE PACKING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES J. FISHER, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Junior, in the county of Barbour and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expansible Packings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in expansible packings for the water pump of a steam engine though not necessarily restricted to such use.

An important object of this invention is to provide a packing for pumps and the like having novel means whereby the packing.

may be periodically adjusted for taking up the wear on the same.

A further object of this invent-ion is to provide an expansible packing which when arranged within a cylinder may be conveniently and expeditiously adjusted from one end of the head to which it is applied whereby access may be had to the adjusting means by removing the cylinder head.

A further object of the invention is to provide an expansible packing having means whereby the entire contact surface of the packing may be engaged with the inner wall of the cylinder with a uniform degree of pressure.

A further object of this invention is to provide an expansible packing Which is eflicient, of highly simplified construction and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the improved expansible packing applied;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through a follower head having the improved packing applied, the packing being shown contracted;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, the packing being shown expanded;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a follower head having the expansible packing;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the several elements of the invention detached.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a cylinder in which is arranged a reciprocating piston rod 11. A follower head 12 is formed integral with the rod 11 and is provided with an annular flange 13 at one end. The annular flange 13 cooperates with a face plate 1 1 which extends beyond the side of the head at the opposite end of the same for securing a plurality of packing rings 15 about the follower. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the packing rings 15 are split and have their end portions provided with .reduced interlocking tongues or extensions 16 which are slidable with relation to each other. The packing rings tightly engage the inner wall of the cylinder and provide a liquid tight engagement between the head 12 and the cylinder.'

To provide means for adjusting the packing rings 15 to compensate for the wear on the same a plurality of arcuate sections 17 are arranged about the head 12 and have their adjacent ends connected by contractile coil springs 18. The end portions of the coil springs 18 extend into openings 19 in the ends of the sections 17 and are provided with attaching loops 20 which receive looking pins 21. The locking pins 21 are mounted within recesses 22 in the outer sides of the sections 17 which communicate with the openings 19 in' the ends of the sections;

A plurality of spaced slots or grooves 23 are provided in the outer side of the head 12 and extend longitudinally of the same. The grooves 23 extend out through the ends of the head 12 and into the flange 13 as indicated at 24. The arcuate sections 17 are provided with grooves 25 opening out through the opposite ends of the same and arranged in opposed relation to the grooves 23. As best illustrated in Fig. 4:, the opposed walls of the grooves 23 and 25 converge toward the face plate 14 and receive wedges 26 having inclined sides corresponding to the inclination of the opposed bottom walls of the slots 23 and 25 whereby the forward longitudinal movement of the wedges forces the sections 17 outwardly. Adjusting bolts 27 have'threaded engagement with the wedges 26 and pass through openings 28 in the plate 1 1. The outer end portions of the bolts 27 are provided with integral heads 29 adapted to be rotated for adjusting the wedges as desired. Locking arms 30 are pivoted at their outer ends as indicated at 31 to the outer side of the plate 14: and are provided with slots 32 opening out through one of their sides and adapted to engage the squared portions 33 of the adjusting bolts 27 for locking the same against accidental rotation. The constant tendency of the Wedges 26 to draw the bolts 27 inwardly causes the heads 29 to tightly engage the locking arms to secure the same in position.

A split metallic collar 34 is arrangedbetweenthe packing rings 15 andthe head 12 and'has its end portions 35 overlapped as indicated in Fig. 3 to permit the collar to be readily expanded for uniformly expanding :the rings :15.

26 may be received withinthe slots 25. The" split collar 34 is now arranged about the segmental sections for forming a relatively smooth seatfor the packing. After the packing is applied the face plate 14: is arranged on1the outer sideof'the head 12 and is secured in position by the nut 38. In adjusting the jacking, the wedges-26 are all drawn up equa distances for forcing the arcuate sections .17 outwardly. The uniform out- .WZLI'C]. movement of the arcuate sections 17 expands'the split collar 34 and thereby presses the packing rings 15 into liquidtightengagement with the inner wall of the cylinder. The coil springs 18 serve to retainzthe arcuate-sections securely in engage- :ment withthewedges 26 and eliminate any tendency of the sections 17 to partake of "lateral movement with respect to the head 12 .when the sections 17 are in their expanded positions.

In adjustingthe packing rings when required the cylinder head may be removed to afford direct access to the heads 29. Upon moving the locking arms out of engagement with the squared portions of the bolts 27, the wedges 26 may be drawn into the narrower portions of theslots 23 and 25 whereby the arcuatesections 17 are moved outwardly the desired distance.

7 Vith reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawingslit will be apparent that Ihave provided an expansible packing which may dieexpeditiously adjusted entirely from one end ofthe cylinderand the'necessity for dismantling the cylinder 'to :any great extent to afford access to the adjusting meansis thereby eliminated.

lIi3 lS'tO b6lll'lClGlStOOChthittflil'lG form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as preferred example and that ends yieldably connected, a collar surrounding the arcuate sections, a packing surrounding said collar, andrmeans to adjustsaid arcuate sections. 7

3. In an expansible packing, a plurality of sections, spring means to normally :retain said sections contracted, a split collar surrounding said sections and having its adjacent end portions overlapped expansible packing surrounding said collar, andmeans to adjust said sections.

4. In an expansible packing, a plurality :of sections having rounded outer faces,

spring means urgingthe sections inwardly, packings surrounding said sections, and means whereby-said sections may .be ad justed.

' 5. The combination with a head, of a plurality of sections surrounding the head, a packing surrounding said sections, said sections and said head having longitudinally extending grooves, wedges arranged in said grooves, the inner walls of said grooves and the adjacent walls of said wedges being inclined, adjusting devices connected to said wedges and extending exteriorly of the outer side of the head whereby the wedges may be adjusted from the outer side. of' the head, and means yieldably connecting said sections.

6. The combinationwith ahead, of a pinrality of sections surrounding the head, a packing surrounding said sections, spring means connecting the adjacent ends of said sections for normallyretaining the same contracted, said sections and said head being provided withopposed grooves, wedges arranged in'said grooves, the inner walls of said grooves and the adjacent sides of said wedges being inclined, a face plate carried by the head, adjusting devices connected to said wedges and extending through said face plate, and means carried by said face plate for locking said wedges in adjusted posi- :tions.

7. The combination with a head having an annular flange at its-inner end, of a face plate arranged on the outer end of the head and extending beyond the side of the same, a plurality ofsections surrounding the head,

'means yieldably connecting the sections, a

split collar surrounding the sections and having its end portions overlapped, an expansible packing arranged about said collar and confined between said annular flange and said face plate, adjusting devices arranged between said sections and said head and extending exteriorly of said face plate, and means arranged on the outer side of the face plate for locking said adjusting devices.

8. The combination with a cylindrical head, of sections surrounding the cylindrical head and having openings in the adja- 10 cent sides, springs having their end portions anchored within said openings and adapted for normally retaining said sections contracted, expansible packing arranged about the sections, and adjusting devices engaging 15 the sections.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES J. FISHER. [1. 8.] 

